Bert Cooper

Hubert “Bert” Cooper, fondly known as 'Father Cooper', was born just west of Brewarrina on 15 July 1907, the year the town of Lightning Ridge was surveyed. His father was employed on Milroy Station until 1921. Then the Coopers moved to Carinda when the youngest children, Ella and Dusty, were but 3 years and 18 months, respectively.

Bert’s father was a publican until 1927, after which he was a storekeeper. Bert was very suspicious of the fire that destroyed the Lightning Ridge Imperial Hotel in 1927.  “They didn’t call the lessee of that hotel ‘Hellfire Jack’ for nothing”, Bert told us.

Florence “Toots” Amiet lived in the same street as the Coopers in Carinda. The couple were married in Walgett. They moved from Carinda to Lightning Ridge in 1943.

Bert was a shearer, loved his opal mining and settled here with his wife Toots and family in 1943.  They lived on Lorne Station during WWII and Toots was a housekeeper for Mr. Powell.

The famous Coopers' Cottage in Morilla Street, across from the pharmacy, was home to them for nearly 40 years. The Coopers were keen bowlers, Bert is Patron of the Bowling Club and the grass bowling green.  

Bert Cooper died in Wollongong, New South Wales on 13 June 2003. Florence “Toots” Cooper passed away on 26 October 1988. The ashes of both are interred at Lightning Ridge Cemetery.

• Bert Cooper @ Find a Grave.

• Florence “Toots” Cooper @ Find a Grave.

Article: Research by Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: Lightning Ridge: Turning Back Time - A Heritage Trail, Barbara Moritz, 1998, p. 25.